Samvaad 2026 to bring together 2,500 participants from 353 tribal communities in Jamshedpur
PINAKI MAJUMDAR Jamshedpur, November 13: Tata Steel Foundation will host the 13th edition of Samvaad, its flagship tribal conclave, at Gopal Maidan…
PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, November 13: Tata Steel Foundation will host the 13th edition of Samvaad, its flagship tribal conclave, at Gopal Maidan in Jamshedpur from November 15 to 19. The five-day event will bring together at least 2,500 participants representing 353 tribal communities from 26 States and Union Territories.
The gathering will provide a national platform for dialogue, cultural exchange and the celebration of indigenous traditions. This year’s edition coincides with the 26th anniversary of Jharkhand’s statehood and the 151st birth anniversary of tribal icon Dharti Aaba Birsa Munda.
Since its inception in 2014, Samvaad has evolved into a significant platform for tribal identity, cultural preservation, knowledge exchange and community-led development. Over the years, it has engaged more than 1.3 lakh people from 353 tribal communities.
This year’s edition will see 15 per cent participation from Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), while 55 per cent of the participants will be attending the conclave for the first time.
In the run-up to the event, 21 regional Samvaads, workshops and residencies have been organised across the country since April, engaging more than 6,000 people.
The conclave will feature discussions on tribal identity, indigenous knowledge systems, education, language preservation, governance, representation and community aspirations. These deliberations will be complemented by exhibitions and showcases of tribal music, cuisine, cinema, craftsmanship and entrepreneurship.
Tribal cuisine showcase to feature 70 home chefs
A major attraction will be the tribal cuisine showcase, featuring 70 home chefs from 22 communities across 14 States and one Union Territory. Through curated dining experiences, cooking demonstrations and food stalls, they will present their traditional culinary heritage.
The initiative, supported in partnership with The Indian Hotels Company Limited (Taj Group), has already helped establish 13 successful food enterprises, with another 12 ventures in the pipeline.
‘Rhythms of the Earth’ to bring together 43 artists
The musical segment, ‘Rhythms of the Earth’, will bring together 43 artists representing 14 tribes across eight States and Union Territories.
The artists will collaborate on seven original Samvaad Singles inspired by the musical traditions of the Oraon, Munda, Rabha, Bodo, Lepcha, Santhal and Ho communities.
The cultural extravaganza will also feature performances by 18 tribes from 12 States, alongside 11 special bands representing 15 tribes across 12 States, including three PVTGs.
Samvaad Fellowship to showcase ideas of 39 fellows
The Samvaad Fellowship will provide a platform for 39 fellows from 15 States and two Union Territories to present and pitch their ideas. The fellowship received 492 applications from 99 tribes across 26 States and two Union Territories.
Seven former awardees who have completed their projects will also release their books during the conclave.
So far, the initiative has supported 64 fellows and generated 79 knowledge and cultural outputs. These include 34 books, 11 audio-visual documentaries and 32 audio songs, besides a heritage museum of the Poumai Naga tribe of Manipur and a heritage café showcasing Ladakhi Balti cuisine.
Artisan showcase expected to generate Rs 1.5 crore in business
The artisan showcase will feature 142 craftspeople from 34 tribes across 16 States and Union Territories. They will display their creations through 68 stalls.
The exhibition is expected to generate business worth Rs 1.5 crore, building on the Rs 1.06 crore revenue recorded by artisans at Samvaad 2025.
Tribal cinema and storytelling platform
The tribal cinema and storytelling platform, ‘Samvaad Ke Sath’, will bring together 60 filmmakers, academicians, practitioners and community leaders.
It will screen 25 shortlisted films selected from 63 entries representing 11 tribes across 12 States and Union Territories.
Traditional healthcare practices will also receive special attention. As many as 207 tribal healers from 28 communities across 15 States and Union Territories will share their indigenous healing knowledge and practices.
‘Akhra’ to deliberate on tribal identity and development
Another key component, ‘Akhra’, will bring together 675 participants representing 166 tribes from 26 States and two Union Territories.
The participants will deliberate on a range of issues, including tribal identity, governance, education, language preservation and development.
Beyond being a five-day gathering, Samvaad seeks to provide tribal communities with a platform to articulate their aspirations, exchange ideas and showcase their living traditions.
The 2026 edition aims to underline the role of indigenous communities not merely as participants in conversations on development, but also as custodians of invaluable knowledge systems and cultural heritage, and as contributors to India’s collective future.
